The final weekend of the season was circled for much of the summer, potentially pitting the Mets against the Nationals with a division title on the line — until Washington’s second-half meltdown made it meaningless.

Still, Max Scherzer made the meeting memorable.

The Nationals ace silenced Citi Field and a third-rate Mets lineup in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, throwing his second no-hitter of the season while striking out 17 in Washington’s 2-0 win. Scherzer became the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan (1973) to throw two-hitters in the same season and just the fifth player ever to do so, while tying Ryan for the most strikeouts in a no-hitter.

“I’m speechless about that,” Scherzer said when told of the feat. “To have that happen twice in a season, it’s special. When you start talking about the history of the game, you can’t even really think about that. That’s why I’m speechless. It’s something you’ll be able to soak in in the offseason and really begin to appreciate what that means.”

Demonstrating the dominance that earned him a $210 million contract from the Nationals before the season started, Scherzer was intense, but collected, repeatedly transforming between brilliance and bulldozing. Each Mets hitter looked more helpless than the previous, unable to gauge what pitch was coming and incapable of accomplishing anything even if he knew.

On a chilly night on which each of Scherzer’s four pitches peaked the way he always envisions, the only thing keeping the former Cy Young winner from perfection was the rare moment out of his control.

Scherzer, who also became the first pitcher to throw two no-hitters with no walks, lost a perfect game in the sixth inning when Yunel Escobar’s throwing error allowed Kevin Plawecki to become the only Met to reach base. In Scherzer’s no-hitter against the Pirates on June 20, the right-hander also allowed only one runner to reach base, with Jose Tabata controversially hit by a pitch with Scherzer one strike from perfection.

“It’s just a play that just didn’t get made,” Scherzer said about the error. “I’m sure he doesn’t feel great about it. He competes, he battles through injuries, nothing but the utmost respect for him.”

Facing a lineup that didn’t include David Wright — and relegated Lucas Duda, Yoenis Cespedes and Daniel Murphy to pinch-hit roles — Scherzer (14-12) only got stronger as the game went on, striking out nine straight batters before getting Curtis Granderson to pop out to Escobar for the game’s final out. The 31-year-old was soon swarmed by teammates in the infield, then soaked in a beer shower in the clubhouse.

Entering the game, Scherzer was 0-2 against the Mets in three starts this season.

“They won the division, they’re trying to get home-field advantage, they’re trying to give you everything they got,” said Scherzer, who threw 109 pitches (80 strikes). “I understand everything at stake, but as a Major League Baseball player it doesn’t matter if you’re in it or out of it, you have to give your ‘A’ effort no matter what.”

Scherzer shared the spotlight for the first five innings, with Matt Harvey sprinting alongside the rival ace, also registering double-digit strikeouts.

It felt like a game of “H-O-R-S-E,” Scherzer said — “He makes a shot, you gotta make a shot” — but after Harvey allowed an unearned run in the sixth, Scherzer shook off Escobar’s error and threw three of the greatest innings of his — or anyone’s — career.

“After you get through six, you know you got a shot,” Scherzer said. “The intensity does keep increasing every time you get closer and closer. You understand what’s going on and you just want to keep that momentum going. … To throw a no-hitter takes luck, but if you want to be a dominant pitcher you look at what you can control.”

Saturday night, Scherzer controlled just about everything — except his third baseman’s fielding.